Story
Encouraged by his devotee, Holly Cantrell (Anna Friel), Dr Rick Marshall (Will Ferrell) pursues his unlikely dream of travelling back in time to the ‘land of the lost’. This is a fantastical place full of dinosaurs and strange creatures. Accompanied by a reluctant bystander, Will Stanton (Danny McBride), Rick and Holly manage to fall through a hole in the fabric of time. Unfortunately, the trio loses its time machine on the way. To find the machine and return home, they must travel through a treacherous world full of friends end enemies.
Themes
Time travel; prehistoric worlds
Violence
This movie contains some violence. For example:
Sexual references
This movie contains some sexual references. For example:
- Holly tells Marshall that she thinks his taste in music is ‘gay’.
- Stanton says, ‘This is a little travel mug I like to call the perfect woman. Big ol’ set of boobies – no head and a handle’.
- Stanton makes some suggestive sound effects to Holly. He implies that it won’t be water from the cave ride that will make her wet.
- There is a shot of a cigarette lighter with breasts.
- On finding the vibrating, pyramid-shaped pylon in the lost city, the characters make several jokes about it. For example, ‘Usually you have to pay for something like this’, and ‘Holly, you should sit on it’.
- Cha-ka makes suggestive movements with his hips to demonstrate having sex.
- Marshall and Stanton stumble across two sleestaks about to mate. They hide behind a rock for their ‘own private little show’. They comment to each other about their observations.
- Marshall refers to Holly as his ‘lover’ on national TV.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
This movie contains some use of substances. For example:
- Marshall holds, but doesn’t use, a tobacco pipe. He twice refers to smoking it.
- A student in class asks, ‘If you shot a tonne of pot at the sun, would it burn and everyone get high?’
- Two cigarette lighters are shown and used.
- Characters drink alcohol.
- The characters find a hidden green cave. Stanton says, ‘I bet somebody’s growing weed in here’.
- Cha-ka gives the other characters a celebratory fruit drink that they soon realise is a narcotic. Cha-ka, Marshall and Stanton behave as if affected.
Nudity and sexual activity
This movie contains some nudity and sexual activity. For example:
- While all the characters except Holly are drugged on a narcotic drink, Stanton asks Marshall and Cha-ka how much he would have to pay to ‘French kiss you all’. They lean in as if to go through with it but decide they can’t. The three of them wake up hours later in a suggestive head-to-tail formation. Cha-ka’s mouth is open next to Marshall’s groin.
- On several occasions, Marshall and Stanton discuss touching themselves. Both leave the impression that they are masturbating at different points during the movie.
- During the introductions between the humans and Cha-ka, Cha-ka and Stanton both provocatively fondle Holly’s breasts.
- Cha-ka feels Marshall’s groin and Holly’s legs.
- Holly kisses Marshall passionately on the mouth. Marshall attempts to return the kiss later but they are interrupted.
- After Stanton decides to stay behind, he accompanies Cha-ka to his colony. Here he is approached by semi-naked beautiful women who begin to fawn over him. He remarks that he thinks he has made the ‘right decision’ by staying.
Product placement
The following products are displayed or used in this movie: Matt Lauer’s Today Show, Bantam Books, Amazon, M&Ms, a Big Cat cigarette lighter, and American fast food restaurants such as Subway.
Coarse language
This movie contains frequent mild to medium-level coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Land of the Lost is an action adventure that features time travel, science fiction and history.
The main messages from this movie are the importance of friendships and trust.
This movie could give you the opportunity to discuss with your children the following real-life issues:
- substance abuse and risk-taking behaviour
- sexual promiscuity
- attitudes to women
- teasing and bullying.